Wichita eagle., 1887-01-05
ARTHUR'S PET STUDY.
THE LATE Ex-PRESIDENT MADE
NAMES SOMETHING OF A HOBBY.
he Assists His Father in Preparing a
Book on tho Derivation of Family
List.


Book on the Derivation Of Family
Patronymics-Selectio From . Long
List.
Psychologists judge the character and
disposition of persons by the bumps and
conformity Of their heads; chiromancists
foretell BIZ the shape and lines in the palms
of the hands, and physiognomists read
through faces and eyes. whats in
name?n was a maxim Of the late President
Arthur He thought that there was good
deal in name, and favorite way with
him of judging individuals was by the name
he bore.
he used to say that he could read a man
if ho heard his name. In his early politi-
cal ard public career his likes and dislikes
were to q considerable extent formed by
patronynics. If any one was introduced to
him in the days when he had leisure 10
would particularly inquire how the name
was spelled, and if he conceived an an
tipathy it was chiefly because the name did
not please him.
Those who knew him best say that the
Judging OF names had much to DO with his
life. He evinced a special fondness for
Gaelic, seemingly. The study Of family
and baptismal names was begun by the
dead president when he was youth. Their
derivation and signifcatiOn amounted to
hobby with him.
In 1851 his father, the Rev. William Ar
thur, who was Baptist preacher, compiled
q book on the subject. 1t was prepared
while the clergyman was living at Newton
Vile near Troy, and the future chief magis-
trate largely aided his father in the editing
Of it. More than half the names in it, he
once said, were prepared by himself The
book was published in this city thirty odd
years ago, but has long been out Of print
and copies Of it are now difficult to find.
The book was an genealogical treatise of
family names, and gave the origin and i'm
port 1t contained from 2, 800 to 2,6C0
names. In the work appear tho patro-
nymics of many citizens who later on became
colnpeers and competitors of the late prcsi-
dent in public life. An ominous signifi-
canoe is attached to the name Of Garfield.
1t is thus described
Garfield, local, Saxon, garwain-to pre-
pare; German and Dutch, gar-dressod,
done, ready, prepared, and field, place
where everything is finished necessary for
an army.
III al tliui VI VIC IitSIt4C VI
United States Senator William N. Evarts
treated:
"Evarts is a combination of Evcrard,
which is Saxon, and has the same meaning
in Greek, that is ever honored, or from
Ebarhartlt, ever hard or enduring Some
writer's SAYS the Arthur treatise, ''aro Of
the opinion that we have Ever, Everard,
Evert, from Ever, or hour
The name of Abram S. Hewitt, the
mayor-elect, is said to be of Saxon origin,
and to signify ''hewer of wood"
Gen. Arthur traced out the name of Ros-
coe Conkling as follows: "Con, wise, know
ing, bold, and klein, little or son. Konke-
len, in Dutch signifies to plot, intrigue, con-
Spire. Cleangleaun, Gaelic, the head of
the valley"
Henry Ward Beecher's surname is said
TO be of French descent from ''baaue cher, u
fine entertainment, or from beech wood. "
The name Of Henry George is from ''the
Greek, Geo, tho earth, q huSbandman, Il
farmer
Charles Stewart Parrell's name comes,
according to Arthur's authority, from the
Italian, "Petrou;lia, pretty stone" while
Gladstone is Saxon and means just what it
says.
Slender or big man generally is the sig
MITIGATION given to the family name Of
James c. Blaine. Arthur said that "Blean
in the Welsh meant the summit or top; the
highest part of a mountain, the inland OK
tremity Of & glen, q leader, q chief"
Senator Miller's name is derived from
the Greek word ''Meillear, having large
lips; malair, Gaelic, a merchant; maillor
Gaelic, q man in armor having a coat Of
mail, a SOLDIER 1t also signifies Zone who
attends great mill
The dead presidents one time chum,
George Bliss gets his name from the Welsh
word "Blys, sgnifying longing, desiring.
In English it means happy man"
The name Williams is from the Belgic
word guild holm, harnessed with a gilded
helmet, or, IS others say, from Wilhelm,
the shield OF defense Of many
Tho family 10 which Commissioner Ste
phen B. French belongs derive their name
from the French. It means originally be
longing to the French.
Lieut.. Gov jones' name is parpci led to
be of Hebrew root, and TO indicate 4 gra-
cious man. Collector Magono's !.amo is
Gaelic and means a bear
Surrogate Rollins na,Ec / from tho
Saxon, and means counsel -or tho land.
District Attorney Wa name is claimed
70 be Of English BIRTH. Arthur says: In
the north o. England and south CT Scotland
a fulli2g nil is still called q walk mil
The name may signify either flilcr O: al
officer whose duty consists III Walking or
inspecting a certain space Of forest ground. =
Dana Indicates 9 imam OF enhance cao
who is exalted
RANSOM, Tie Eamc Of one OF Gen Ar
thurs land Ventures, means the price paid
fer rad ugtion from captivity or punish
mont. The rane of the late presidents
political compocr. Ex-Gov. \. i. Cornell,
is from the British, meaning a corner. a
place, shaped Ike body. In the French
Cornciilo signifies q crow. Alderman
O'Connor's name means in Crltjc and
Gaelic ~ c1ieyful among Men. q Chief -
Huscrl means "A home. a fixed place, from
the Sl-.n.
The following origin was attached to
Gen. Ar,i,.I's own name By his father and
himself
Arthur British. T. strong man, from
Ar Lctia. NiGl. a man, and thor, strong.
In the Gaelic Air in the same a. Fear, a
man, and the ancient Scy1-..au5 called q
man Aior. Thor was tho Jupiter o. the
Teutonic rac-s. their goi Of thunder In
Nolch Ar-h is q bea-. an emblem Of
strength and courage, and Sur, noun ter
animation, q man. Arthur means bear
man, ke-o, man of strength"
The Aston family name indicates 4
star. - from the Crock astar, also flower
form tie Dutch ''oter.'
Machine for Registering Vote.
Vt rs mechanical exhibition attt.a I7sl-is
&c l. Ind-stfie II Para Tiers = shown 2